Only 12% Of American Adults Are Metabolically Healthy?

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Posted on Dec 03, 2018, 9 p.m.

A study from the University of North Carolina researchers suggests that only 12% of American Adults are considered to be metabolically healthy, meaning a vast portion of the population is at greater risks of developing heart disease, diabetes, or other health conditions over time, as published in the journal Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders.

5 factors that have been identified as indicators of good or bad metabolic health are: triglycerides, blood pressure, waist circumference, blood glucose, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol. If optimal levels of these indicators can be maintained with need for medications those people are deemed to be metabolically healthy; according to this study 1 in 8 Americans meet those standards for all 5 factors.

8,721 Americans were studied between 2009-2016 who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study to reveal that only 12.2% of those were metabolically healthy, finding those, particularly women, who were more physically active, were non-smokers, and had higher education were more likely to meet all five factors. This 12.2% would be about 27.3 million American adults, if the ratio extrapolated to the entire adult population within the USA.

Based on their finding it was concluded that few Americans are achieving metabolic health; and more alarming was the complete absence of optimal metabolic health in those who had less than high school education, with obesity, were smokers, and were not physically active. Findings are hoped to promote renewed attention to population based interventions and accessible strategies to promote healthier lifestyles and choices.